A daughter of the Mariana Islands, Sheila Babauta is passionate about uplifting indigenous voices and making a positive contribution to her community. Born and raised on the island of Saipan, she is the daughter of Diego and Dolorina Babauta. Sheila served in public office holding key leadership positions such as Chair of the Natural Resources Committee and Floor Leader for the Saipan and Northern Islands Legislative Delegation.
Her longstanding commitment to service is evident through non-profit organizations such as the Friends of the Marianas Trench, Our Common Wealth 670, Micronesia Climate Change Alliance, and Right to Democracy where she aims to amplify the Marianas voice around decolonization, demilitarization, and environmental justice. She believes that traditional knowledge and indigenous leadership leads to responsible stewardship of our natural resources that contributes to the health and healing of her community.
As an alum of the Obama Leaders Program: Asia Pacific, Young Pacific Leaders Program, Pacific Century Fellows Program-Marianas Chapter, and Pacific Weavers Program, leadership development remains a priority for her. A 2023 Environmental Justice Movement Fellow with the Tishman Design Center at The New School and founder of Community Solutions, a small business focused on community building and engagement, Sheila believes that empowerment and healing at the individual and community level will guide us to a more just and sustainable future.
Sheila was named the 2023 Environmental Champion by the Mariana Islands Nature Alliance, and the 2023 Environmentalist of the Year by the Marianas Terrestrial Conservation Conference. She has represented the Mariana Islands at national U.S. conferences and international gatherings in Scotland, Egypt, Palau, Puerto Rico, Greece, Tanzania, U.S. Virgin Islands, Fiji, Aotearoa, and most recently at the 2025 Tiaki Moana Summit in Maohi Nui (French Polynesia).
She is an enthusiast at heart, currently re-reading The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho and tuning into the Super Soul podcast. She enjoys her morning swims at Paupau Beach and envisions transforming an abandoned shopping mall and resort in her village into a cultural resiliency hub.